Set a plant in a corner of the daycare, where children are sure to notice it. Begin a conversation about plants. Name the different parts of a plant. Ask children if they know how to take care of a plant so it will grow and be healthy. Fill a container with plant (or flower) seeds. Seal the container. Leave it on the table for children to discover.

AREA SETUP

Hang artificial plants from the ceiling. You can find several different kinds in department stores and they usually are fairly inexpensive. Display pictures of plants and flowers on the walls. Children will enjoy admiring them throughout the theme. Cut a variety of shapes out of green construction paper and secure them on the floor using Mac-Tac. Use the shapes to create a path children can follow to go from one area of the daycare to another. You may use our model. (Open plant shape) Print several copies and invite children to color the shapes.

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with your group. Use them to decorate your daycare or a thematic corner. (Open picture game-Plants) Print, laminate, and store in a "Ziploc" bag or in your thematic bin.

Moving flowersStand in a circle. Select two or three types of flowers. For example, have two or three children represent daisies, two or three other children represent roses, and the other children represent tulips. Say, "Daisies, move!" The children who represent daisies must quickly change places. Continue the game.

Plants in the windDeposit a large quantity of fabric leaves and artificial flowers on your parachute. Shake the parachute to make them fly in the wind.

Growing flowers.Tell children they are a tiny seed in the ground. They curl up in a ball. Then, tell them that it is starting to rain. They begin to move but remain curled up in a ball. Announce that the seed is beginning to grow and that you can see a small green leaf popping out of the ground. Children can raise their head and their upper body. State that the sun is shining and the seed is beginning to grow, and grow. Children stand up very slowly. The seed becomes a beautiful flower. Encourage children to stretch and find an original pose. Then, tell your group that the wind is blowing. Children keep their feet on the ground and sway from one side to the other.

Flower fieldDivide your group into two teams. Have each team sit at a table. Deposit one large sheet of paper and crayons on each table. Play music. The goal is for each team to have time to draw a flower field before the song ends.

Musical flowersCut out several construction paper flowers and deposit them on the floor. Give each child a butterfly. You must have one flower and one butterfly of each color. This game is played much like musical chairs, but without competition. Children walk around the flowers until the music stops. When the music stops, each butterfly must find its matching flower. Before starting the music once again, children may exchange their butterflies. For younger children, you can play with only two colors of flowers and butterflies. As they grow and are able to distinguish colors, add one color at a time.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Photo gardenPurchase a disposable camera. Take a walk in your neighbourhood with your group and let them take turns taking pictures of plants, flowers, or trees.

Garden obstacle courseUse your garden furniture to create a maze. Tell children they must find their way out of the flower garden. Deposit obstacles throughout the maze. You can, for example, tie a rope to two chairs and invite children to crawl under it or climb over it, without touching it. Place a bucket of water on a chair and tell children they must crawl under the chair, like a worm.

ACTIVITIES INVOLVING PARENTS

My gardenAsk parents to provide pictures of their flower bed, garden, or indoor plants. Display them on the wall and invite children to present their pictures to the group.

My pastimeAsk children's parents if gardening is one of their pastimes. If so, invite them to teach your group about taking care of plants.

Garden centre visitAsk parents to join you for a visit of your local garden centre. Show children new plants, flowers, and trees.

COGNITIVIE ACTIVITIES

Magnifying glass game

(Open magnifying glass game-Plants) Print and laminate the board game and the cards. Cut them out and store them in a box or in a Ziploc bag. Children pick a card and search for the item on the board game, using a magnifying glass. Once they have found the item, they deposit it in the correct square, on the board game.

Educ-same and different-Plants(Open educ-same and different-Plants) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must circle the illustration which is different in each row.

Educ-big and small-Plants(Open educ-big and small-Plants) Print and laminate the game. Children must place matching illustrations on the board game in the correct order, from smallest to biggest, using Velcro or adhesive putty.

Educ-association-Plants(Open educ-association-Plants) Print the game. Glue the first two pages inside a file folder. Cover with Mac-Tac. Laminate the illustrations and cut them out. Stick a piece of Velcro behind each illustration and on each illustration on the board game (you may also use adhesive putty). Children associate the illustrations. When they have found the correct association, they simply stick the card in the correct place.

Educ-math-Plants

(Open educ-math-Plants) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must count the objects in each rectangle and circle the corresponding number.

Educ-pattern-Plants(Open educ-pattern-Plants) Print and laminate. Add Velcro to the back of the cards. Children must correctly place the cards to complete the patterns.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Flower danceGive each child a small card with a flower illustration. Each card must have a double. Invite children to find their partner, the child holding the card with a matching flower. Together, children try to identify the type of flower. Play music. Children are dance partners. When the song ends, redistribute the cards and start all over again.

My favourite flowerEncourage children to look at books containing several types of flowers for inspiration. Invite them to draw their favourite flower. When they are done, they can present their drawing and explain their choice.

EARLY SCIENCE

BulbsDeposit several types of bulbs in a sensory bin. Let children manipulate them and observe them with magnifying glasses.

My flower boxFill a container with dirt and add gardening tools, plastic flowers, and an empty watering can (to avoid messes). Children will enjoy planting the flowers in the dirt.

A plant is aliveFind two plants which look alike. Place one plant in the sun and water it regularly with your group. Place the other plant in another area with no sunlight. Do not water it. Observe the differences between the two plants and discuss. Identify what plants need to grow.

Grow, grow, grow

Give each child a Ziploc bag. Let them deposit a cotton ball in their bag. Provide bean seeds and have them place them on the cotton ball. Let them add a small quantity of water. Tape the bags to a window. In just a few days, changes will occur. Variation 1: You can try the same experiment using small yogurt containers and dirt. Place the containers on a windowsill. Don't forget to water your seeds. Variation 2: You may also use a Styrofoam glass. Have children draw eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Use grass seeds. Children will love to see their character's hair grow!

ARTS & CRAFTA plant's leaves(Open plant shape) Print for each child. Ask children to cut the leaves and glue them on the plant model.

Plant collageHang a large white paper banner on the wall. Provide several gardening magazines. Let children cut out pictures of plants, gardening tools, and other objects related to the theme. Have them glue them on the banner.

Seed collage(Open plant shape) Print for each child. Deposit several different types of seeds in the center of your arts & crafts table. Let children cover the plant shape with seeds. You may ask children to color the plant before adding the seeds.

Plant and flower mobile(Open craft-plant and flower mobile) Print, cut out, and color the plants and flowers to create a mobile. Hang them from a hanger using different lengths of string. Display within the daycare.

Plant paintingGlue plant leaves (fabric or cardboard) on a large piece of cardboard. Let children paint over the leaves with poster paint. Once dry, gently remove the leaves. You will discover beautiful leaf prints.

The sun helps flowers grow(Open models Circles) Trace the circles on yellow and orange construction paper. Trace a larger circle on the orange paper and a smaller circle on the yellow paper or vice versa. Children cut out the circles and glue the small circle on the larger circle. Have them cut strips of construction paper to represent the sun's rays. Help them glue the rays all the way around the sun. When they are done, they can add a smiling face.

TulipUse empty egg cartons to make tulips. Have children paint each cavity a different color. Use pipe cleaners for the stems. Plant the stems in a green Styrofoam block (floral foam).

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